Highlights

Moderate intensity exercise acutely increases BNP in CVD patients, but not in those with risk factors or healthy controls

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Multiple-day exercise does not further increase BNP concentrations compared to a single day of prolonged walking

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Baseline BNP concentration, beta-blocker use and age can predict 77% of post-exercise BNP concentrations

Abstract

Background

Healthy athletes demonstrated increased B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentrations following exercise, but it is unknown whether these responses are exaggerated in individuals with cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) or disease (CVD). We compared exercise-induced increases in BNP between healthy controls (CON) and individuals with CVRF or CVD. Furthermore, we aimed to identify predictors for BNP responses.

Methods

Serum BNP concentrations were measured in 191 participants (60 ± 12 yrs) of the Nijmegen Marches before (baseline) and immediately after 4 consecutive days of walking exercise (30–50 km/day). CVRF (n = 54) was defined as hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, obesity or smoking and CVD (n = 55) was defined as a history of myocardial infarction, heart failure, atrial fibrillation or angina pectoris.

Conclusion

Prolonged moderate-intensity walking exercise increases BNP concentrations in CVD participants, but not in CVRF and CON. BNP increases were small, and did not accumulate across consecutive days of exercise. These findings suggest that prolonged walking exercise for multiple consecutive days is feasible with minimal effect on myocardial stretch, even for participants with CVD.